The Railway Children

Question 1

What are the themes in The Railway Children?

Answer 1

Youth
Nostalgia
Curiosity
Reflection

Question 2

What is the mood of The Railway Children?

Answer 2

It’s almost like contempt as he looks back fondly on his childhood memories

Question 3

Give an example of a simile in The Railway Children

Answer 3

“Like lovely freehand they curved for miles” - Heaney uses a simile to compare the telegraph wires to cursive writing

Question 4

Give examples of alliteration in The Railway Children

Answer 4

○”Like lovely freehand…”

○’W’ repeated throughout

Question 5

Give an example of personification in The Railway Children

Answer 5

“We thought words travelled the wires”

Question 6

My favourite mage in The Railway Children is…

Answer 6

That of the telegraph wires curving for miles. - “Like lovely freehand they curved for miles” - Heaney takes something ugly and obstructive like the telegraph wires and turns it into a beautiful, simple, appealing image

Question 7

Give an example of onomatopaeia in The Railway Children

Answer 7

“Of telegraph poles and sizzling wires”